By tf-lawyer.com During a press conference held in Beijing on September 10, Zhang Ke, the Director of China’s National Healthcare Security Administration, outlined ambitious plans to enhance maternity insurance coverage and bolster financial support for maternity healthcare. He underscored the necessity for cross-departmental collaboration in creating a comprehensive policy framework to facilitate childbirth.
Zhang revealed that as of 2023, about 249 million individuals in China are enrolled in maternity insurance, with total expenditures reaching 117.7 billion yuan. On average, insured female employees receive maternity benefits totaling around 26,000 yuan. At present, these benefits can be disbursed either directly to employees or through their employers, who subsequently provide the payments. However, the National Healthcare Security Administration plans to transition to a model where more benefits are directly allocated to women.
He emphasized taking proactive steps to improve maternity support, which includes broadening the scope of maternity insurance. This expansion will allow regions with favorable conditions to pilot initiatives that enable flexible workers to contribute to maternity insurance while engaging in employee health plans. Pilot programs in regions such as Jiangxi, Zhejiang, Tianjin, and Guizhou have already shown promising outcomes.
In addition, Zhang addressed the need for standardizing pricing for assisted reproductive services, advocating for the inclusion of these technologies into the health insurance payment system. The Administration is encouraging local provinces to balance the financial sustainability of the health insurance fund with the regulatory aspects of assisted reproductive technologies, gradually integrating appropriate services into coverage. Currently, 20 provinces, including Beijing, Guangxi, Inner Mongolia, and Gansu, have begun adopting assisted reproductive services within their insurance reimbursement frameworks, with expectations for more provinces to follow suit by year’s end.
Looking ahead, Zhang reaffirmed the National Healthcare Security Administration’s dedication to fortifying maternity insurance and basic healthcare initiatives. He highlighted the importance of interdepartmental cooperation in fostering balanced demographic development for the future.
